Ecuador tendering over US$120mn in road repair contracts

Ecuador’s transport and public works ministry will allocate US$122mn for road repairs under tenders already launched or due to be launched in the coming weeks.

In an interview with BNamericas, minister Darío Herrera said the resources will go to 29 projects, including public works and inspection, with priority given to the provinces of Azuay, Esmeraldas, Orellana, Morona Santiago and Imbabura.

Bids have already been called for 30% of the projects and the rest should be put out to tender by the end of May, he said.

Some US$53mn will go to minor projects and around US$69mn, including inspection, will go to the Y Narupa-Loreto-Coca and La Balbanera-Pallatanga-Cumandá routes.

Those two contracts have financing from development bank CAF and will be put out to tender in the coming weeks, the minister said.

According to Herrera, the tenders can normally take 140 days, but given their priority, the idea is to complete the processes within 60 days.

He said the tenders should have been launched in March but have been delayed because the country had to face the effects of a harsh winter, which led to 359 landslides in 20 provinces.

"In two months, we have had to remove 157,000m3 of rocks and stones from the roads," added the official.

The projects are part of a US$1bn road program up to May 2025, when the term of President Guillermo Lasso ends.